Steve and Jenny Valentine

As I begin to emerge from the fog that has been our lives over the first month, I can't help but be in a continual state of thankfulness.  Thankful for the gift of life, little Olivia's specifically.  Thankful for the gift of children the Lord has entrusted us with.  Thankful for the MANY people who have served us by bringing meals (literally we only had to cook a couple of times during the first month!). Thankful for my mom who served and cared for us all. Thankful that in the midst of tiredness, we are finding much joy.  Thankful for so many thoughtful gifts given. Thankful for encouraging reminders of God's love and grace toward us. Just THANKFUL! Olivia is the typical newborn. She sleeps, eats, well you know!  She likes to be near mama, doesn't mind the VERY loud sounds her brother and sister create (in fact sleeps right through it amazingly!), beginning to hold her head up and has very strong arms and legs (which makes diaper changes a bit challeng...

Our little Olivia Noël arrived on February 25, just two days shy of big brother, Isaac's, second birthday. Like the other two kiddos she came early. I kept telling anyone who asked that I expected her to arrive sometime during my 38th week of pregnancy, and even though I hoped for that, I was preparing myself to possibly be pregnant longer. In fact, the day before I went into labor I was having a conversation with a friend and said,"I don't know what it would be like to be pregnant past 39 weeks!" It's always exciting (to me anyway) to experience each individual story of coming into the world, so here's her story. *For those who don't want TMI and to see the story in pictures, scroll on down past my lengthy story telling ;) On Monday, February 24th I went to my 38 week check up by myself (thank you mom for being here with the kiddos!)  In going to my 38 week appointment, I was hoping I would be about 3 cm dilated (because that's what I had been a...

These pictures seem to be long overdue, but we took them just a week and half before Olivia was born and I never had time to post them!  Thanks to my sister in law, Lauren Valentine, for taking such adorable pictures of my pregnancy with Olivia.  There's also a couple cute shots she captured of Karis and Isaac too! This one may seem random, but I'm sitting under a "baby" Olive Tree. And since Olivia's name means Olive Tree, it seemed fitting!